Business Networking For Dummies

Chapter 6

Attending Networking Meetings

In This chapter

Ensuring that you’re prepared for your networking meetings

Ensuring that you feel prepared for your networking meetings

In this chapter, I write as if you’re about to attend your first networking meeting. I cover everything you need to do beforehand (you weren’t just going to pitch up were you?) and right up to the point when you’re ready to set off.

Even if you’re a seasoned networker, this chapter is worth reading. You may find that some of the hints, tips and strategies are new to you, or it may just give you a refresher and a new sense of excitement about attending networking events.

Finding Time to Network

The UK offers plenty of networking options, which I explore in Chapter 4. There really is something to suit everyone, with every time of day covered, every format of networking and even gender-specific (typically female-only, although I have seen one or two male-only) networking events out there.

The thing is, not networking simply isn’t an option if you want to succeed. No matter which business you’re in, your competitors are out networking. For most businesses, the ability to have that human contact, to press the flesh and to make real some of those social media connections is far too valuable an opportunity not to ...